"You do that investigation. The guard will lead you to Ramoska."
"I am no friend of the Whispering Way, and I would prefer to see the Whispering Tyrant remain confined in Gallowspire, as he has been these last fourscore decades. If you find me the killer, I will tell you what I know of this cult, and where they might have gone." Luvick tells and with a gesture of his hand, he hints that the audience is over.
The vampire guard leads you out and aournd the audiience hall to a small holding cell, locked with a sturdy wooden door. You are greeted by a undead, much like a vampire, but lacking the grace and good looks . "Good evening. More of Luvick’s spawn, are you, come to gloat some more? No, I can see you’re no vampires. His loyal slaves, then, fawning over ‘His Grace’ while your true minds scream silently and helplessly inside. No? Then what business do you have with me? Perhaps you came to free me. If so, I can assure you I would be most grateful."
"No we have not come to free you, we have come to ask more questions of you I am afraid. My Name is Stam Truthfinder of Cheliax" Stam says leaning against the wall. "What you can you tell us of the Vampire murders happening here?'
"I don't know anything, which isn't known by anyone. And probably less, as I don't get any news, since I'm grounded here in this 'prison'. Why would I know anything? I have nothing to do with the killings." the nosferatu answers.
So why were you singled out to be thrown in here?
"He is scared. And my kind and his, though similar in some ways, are actually quite different. I am an outsider who serves a powerful master, and Luvick feels threatened by this. He needs a scapegoat, and I fit the role well. I suspect my recent work with the Whispering Way might have
something to do with it as well." Ramoska Arkminos replies.
"It would most likely have a lot to do with it, what is your capacity in serving the whispering way?" Stam asks
"I am both a student of the arcane and an alchemist by trade. The Whispering Way hired me to test the potency of a potion they’re creating, a powerful admixture providing a path to lichdom. I hasten to add that I am no supporter of their goals, but the opportunity to test my expertise on such a concoction proved too enticing to resist."
An alchemist you say? Well would such a potion consist of *insert alchemy technoballe here**
"Actually it didn't. I had unexpected ingredients. It used completely different *instert other alchimical technobabble*. Obviously, they mean to administer it to someone. Judging by the formula I studied, someone of great importance, as it was crafted for a specific person. My personal favorite for the potion’s recipient is Prince Aduard Ordranti, ruler of all Ustalav."
Is the prince a powerful enough mage to become a lich? Grergof wonders aloud.
"Is he a mage at all? He was a general in the ustalavic army before he became the countries ruler. But if he were it wouldn't help. He most likely wouldn't be willing to aid in the ritual."
"SO they will forcefully make him a lich? I didn't know non spell casters could be liches. I guess if he became a lich without the normal abilities to cast spells and such he may be easier to control." Stam ponders outloud
"He would be an undead ruler of Ustalav. That'd be the wet dream of every Whisperign Way agent. Not that I think, the people would accept that easily."
So how did you meet or communicate with these people?
"They came to me, I did the job, and then they left without paying. Those bastards. No further communication was involved. If I knew where they wen't I'd love to send them a demand note. Delivered as an attachment to an axe between the eyes. You wouldn't be willing to do such a delivvery?"
If they are trying to create a Lich, I'm pretty sure that could be arranged. The problem is finding them. The Vampires believe they know how to get to them, but they won't tell us unless we track down what is killing them.
"We could and are planning on doing that thing, it isn't an axe by a mean flail that we plan to put between their eyes." Stam says. "Do you know how the Whispering Way is killing the Vampires or why?"
"I don't even know if they are the ones killing vampires. How the vampires are killed is mostly clear. Someone puts a stake through them and put them into the sun."
Do you think it could be someone in the nobility? If you have evidence that maybe it is the Prince trying to become a Lich, could the slaying be part of the ritual?
"There were no dead vampires in the potion if you meant that. The ritual to become a lich is unique for each lich to become. But I never heard that it would require a living or unliving sacrifice, other than the caster of the ritual."
Spugnoir lets the others talk and takes notes.
"Who in the Nobility do you suspect? The Advisor? It is always them in the novels." Stam asks
"I suspect everyone and noone. I have no clue!" Ramoska tells. "If you got no better ideas than interrogating me, then you won't have much success in uncovering the culprit."
"So how do we go about this then? We have to find out who is killing the Vampires, I suspect the Way is involved since the Vampires could stand up to them." Stam says turning to his comrades
Well if we speak to the living, I can use my extracts to read thoughts and detect cues so that can make our investigations easier.
"I agree, we just need a place to start I guess. Do you think the Count will tell us where the first Murder happened? Maybe he will pull his people back in to protect them." Stam says
We may want to see if we can also get a list of where all the killings happened. There may be a pattern we can find on how this her.. I mean vigilante operates.
Also, it might make sense to see if these killings have a pattern, are they always alone, do most frequent one area of the city and things like that.
Also thinking about this, how does this... Vigilante... know who is a vampire and who isn't. I'm wondering if there are any other killings of vampire related creatures....
He looks to the nosferatu and the Quinley,
Have either of you heard of any of your kind being targeted, or do the killings strike only Vampires?
"Only vampires as far as I know. And all from Luvick's clan." Quinley answers.
Perhaps we can try to wiggle into the higher social circles and check out this Prince Aduard.
If it is only Luvick's Clan, then there may be a spy in here as well.. We could also try to follow up on that..
"There aren't much more vampires in Caliphas than those of Luvick. But it could well be an inside job." Quinley comments. "There are not many but other vampires who have the strength and speed to oppose a vampire."
"We could use, I would have to change out my spells for a More Social setting, could buy some fancy clothes and see what we can learn about the Vampires in town." Stam agrees [b]"We could talk to them all I guess if you want. Darius could ask his God for Truth Telling Magic and I can Talk to them" Stam says
Well we have been spending loads of time underground, so having a nice party sounds like a nice change of pace.
"I agree, we can leave quinley down here in our stead?" Stam says looking at the man
"Sorry, I guess I got lost somewhere and your train of thought left without taking me aboard." Quinley answers. "Where do you want to have a party, and why would I need to stay here?"
I'm a little confused as well. What do you all want to be doing?
Do we want to have an "interview with a Vampire" to find the information source, or do we talk to the nobles to see if we can find this night stalker?
Unless one of you can use magic to gain some more answers?
Talk to nobles I guess. Perhaps they want to eliminate the vampires.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Quinley inquires.
Maybe find that prince who was going to get the lich potion and thus maybe get a lead on the Whispering Way. That or try going to a church and asking the gods directly.
"Ramoska said that he thinks maybe some Nobels want the Vampires dead, we need to talk to them and the best place would be a ball. Well back in Cheliax it would be so I assumed it would be like that here as well." Stam says
"I don't remember him saying that. How about we ask the vampires, while we're here, what they know?" Quinley suggests. "It would also be interesting to know how long Ramoska is in custody here. The last murders weren't that long ago."
Spugnoir opens the package!
Mr. Stam and Mr Basdel, why don't you talk to the vampires. Maybe I can come with you for protection. I don't trust anyone here.
Mr. Redgrave, do you think you could ask The Inheritor if she has any hints that could help us find this vigilante?
"We shall yes." Stam says heading back to the main meeting hall.
"We have a few more questions. How long has Ramoska been here? The last murder was yesterday morning from what we say so if he was here then he didn't have part in that one."
Stam is halted by one of the guards. "Stop right there. This is not your living room, where you can enter and leave as you like."
The guard waits a moment to see if Stam got that. Then he adds "The nosferatu is in Master Siervage's custody for three days now."
Spugnoir nudges Stam. Plus we have questions about royalty, remember?
"Right do you have any dealings with the Royalty of this city?"
Stam asks the rude guard, now allowing him to bother Stam.
"I have no clue. That's something Radvir brought up I think."